Prattville commission denies rezoning for 1160 East Main Street after resident safety concerns

On April 16, 2026, the Prattville Planning Commission voted to deny a petition by Derek Fuller to rezone approximately 0.27 acres at 1160 East Main Street from R2 (single-family) to OI (office). Staff had recommended disapproval as the requested OI classification is inconsistent with the city's future land use map, which designates the site as mixed-use residential.

The petition was introduced by staff and Fuller responded to questions about the proposal, saying the intent was a small office for two people and that he planned to reconfigure the driveway to improve sight lines. "It would be just me and him working there," Fuller said, adding he expected fewer comings and goings than a typical multi-vehicle household.

Neighbors urged denial. Bruce Hurst, who said he has lived on Faulk Avenue behind the property for 72 years, told the commission, "It's too hard to get out there on that four-lane road like it is now" and described frequent speeding and previous wrecks near the site. Mayor Gillespie acknowledged the traffic concerns and said a work order for additional patrols would be issued.

During discussion, a commissioner said that, given the absence of a center turn lane and current traffic volumes, converting homes to office uses along this stretch could exceed safe egress capacity. After a motion to recommend the rezoning was made and seconded, the commission voted by hand raise and the motion failed; the transcript records the outcome as "Motion failed." No roll-call tallies were given in the record.

The denial leaves the property's zoning unchanged at R2. The record shows staff and neighbors emphasized traffic and compatibility with the future land use map as primary bases for the decision; the petitioner acknowledged the possibility of future changes in occupancy but said the immediate plan was for a low-traffic office use. The commission moved on to subsequent agenda items following the vote.